Your Next Robot May Drink Vodka

Bender, everyone's favorite alcohol guzzling robot, may be a more
accurate portrayal of the future than anyone expected. A new 4engineering.com
story describes a fuel cell being developed by researchers at Saint
Louis University. They have developed a biofuel cell that runs on
alcohol; any alcohol, including vodka, gin, white wine, and even flat
beer. It can also use ethonal or methonal. Some of the prototypes have
been as small as a postage stamp and can power cells phones for over
a month. A Saint Louis University press release
issued in March of this year has some additional information.

Ethyl alcohol would seem to be an excellent source of energy - easily
available, renewable, high energy/mass ratio, clean burning, and for
the most part, non-toxic.

However, I'd have to travel to another city to buy any robot-fuel! I
live in a dry city (Garland, TX) and I have to drive to Plano to buy
beer and/or wine. If I want to buy something stronger, I have to drive
even farther. It's been this way for at least the 20+ years that I've
lived here.